Somalia Moves to Curb Militant Disguises in Mogadishu after Al-Shabaab Attack

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia’s Minister of Defense, Ahmed Moalim Fiqi, declared that unmarked vehicles and unidentified armed personnel will be banned in Mogadishu, following a deadly Al-Shabaab attack earlier this month on a key intelligence facility in the capital.

The militant group used a military-style vehicle marked with the logo and colors of the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA), and militants dressed in intelligence uniforms, to target the Godka Jilicow interrogation center — a high-security NISA compound in the Banadir region.

“The government will soon issue a directive banning the movement of unmarked vehicles and unidentified armed personnel within Mogadishu,” Fiqi said during a press briefing. “This measure is aimed at preventing future infiltration attempts by Al-Shabaab.”

Fiqi said Al-Shabaab has shifted tactics after facing difficulties using civilian vehicles, and is now disguising its fighters and vehicles to resemble those of government agencies.

“When they could no longer hide among the public, they began mimicking government vehicles — something rare in the past. But this tactic will not succeed again,” he said.

The defense minister stressed that the government is taking proactive steps to close security loopholes and protect critical installations in the capital.

Al-Shabaab, an al-Qaida-linked group, has carried out numerous attacks in Mogadishu targeting government officials, military bases, and security facilities in its ongoing insurgency.

GAROWE ONLINE